Service providing system, database, and service providing device

Abstract

A service providing system is equipped with a robot, a robot time zone management unit configured to specify a time zone in which there is no action plan for the robot itself, an activity specifying unit configured to specify an activity that has yet to be experienced by the robot itself or a subject and that is of high priority, and a location specifying unit configured to specify a location where the activity is performed. In the specified time zone, the robot moves to the specified location, performs the specified activity, and provides information obtained through the activity, to the subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A service providing system comprising:
 a robot equipped with at least a sensor, a recognition processor, and a drive device; and 
 a robot management device incorporated in the robot, having at least a computer, and which is configured to manage and control the robot, based on at least an instruction from a subject to retrieve requested information, wherein the robot management device comprises:
 an idle time specifying processor configured to specify a time zone in which there is no action plan for the robot itself; 
 an activity specifying processor configured to, in response to a determination that requested information is unavailable to the robot, access a memory or a cloud to retrieve an action plan for obtaining the requested information, wherein the action plan comprises a location for obtaining the requested information; 
 
 and
 an activity location specifying processor configured to identify, from the action plan, the location for obtaining the requested information, wherein, based on instructions from the robot management device, in the specified time zone, the robot: 
 moves to the location for obtaining the requested information, 
 performs actions in accordance with the action plan to obtain the requested information, and 
 provides the requested information to the subject. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The service providing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mobile body idle time specifying processor configured to specify an idle time period of a mobile body of the robot to be used for movement of the robot to the location for obtaining the requested information during the time zone and during the idle time period of the mobile body. 
 
     
     
       3. The service providing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the robot measures an amount of exercise in a case that the subject performs actions in of the action plan, and provides information concerning the amount of exercise to the subject. 
     
     
       4. The service providing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the action plan is retrieved based on a dialog that between the robot and the subject. 
     
     
       5. The service providing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the time zone in which there is no action plan for the robot itself is specified, based on at least one of content of the instruction from the subject, a schedule of the subject, and actions of the subject as learned by the robot. 
     
     
       6. The service providing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a server configured to carry out communications with the robot management device via a network; and a database connected to the server, and configured to store data collected by at least the robot management device. 
 
     
     
       7. The service providing system according to  claim 6 , wherein instead of the robot management device, the server is equipped with a portion of functions possessed by the robot management device. 
     
     
       8. A database applied to a service providing system, wherein the service providing system comprises:
 a robot equipped with at least a sensor, a recognition processor, and a drive device; and 
 a robot management device incorporated in the robot, having at least a computer, and which is configured to manage and control the robot, based on at least an instruction from a subject to retrieve requested information, wherein the robot management device comprises:
 an idle time specifying processor configured to specify a time zone in which there is no action plan for the robot itself; 
 an activity specifying processor configured to, in response to a determination that requested information is unavailable to the robot, access a memory or a cloud to retrieve an action plan for obtaining the requested information, wherein the action plan comprises a location for obtaining the requested information; and 
 an activity location specifying processor configured to identify, from the action plan, the location for obtaining the requested information, wherein, based on instructions from the robot management device, in the specified time zone, the robot:
 moves to the location for obtaining the requested information, 
 performs actions in accordance with the action plan to obtain the requested information, and 
 provides the requested information to the subject, 
 
 
 wherein the database is configured to receive information acquired or learned by the robot and to provide the information to another robot under a predetermined condition. 
 
     
     
       9. A robot comprising:
 a memory configured to store therein an action plan for the robot itself; 
 a time zone device configured to retrieve an idle time zone in which there is no action plan for the robot itself, by using information stored in the memory; 
 an input device configured to receive an utterance of a subject corresponding to information desired by the subject; 
 a first arithmetic device configured to access the memory or a cloud to identify an action plan for obtaining the information desired by the subject; 
 a second arithmetic device configured to access the memory or a storage device installed externally of the robot, to identify a location for performing the action plan; 
 a control device configured to cause the robot to, in the retrieved idle time zone, move to the location for performing the action plan and perform actions of the action plan; 
 a sensor configured to collect the information during the performing of the action plan; and 
 an output device configured to provide the collected information to the subject.